Good Morning, New York! AOC has officially endorsed Zohran #1 for Mayor, along with a slate of four other candidates on a ranked ballot. Meanwhile, ebikes are capped at 15 mph in NYC and a new prevailing wage bill sparks outrage. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Thursday, June 5th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In NYC and Massachusetts with no public events scheduled yet.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Slow down, speed demons! Mayor Adams is capping e-bike and scooter speeds at 15 mph in NYC, matching limits in the EU and existing scooter rules. While the city touts safety improvements, delivery workers have protested recent NYPD crackdowns, saying the focus should be on regulating apps and infrastructure. Adams is pushing for a new agency to oversee the industry, but it's stalled in the City Council. (Gothamist)

— ICE agents are nabbing migrants at mandatory check-ins in lower Manhattan, sparking outrage from advocates who call it a 'trap.' Advocates witnessed a woman distraught after being wrestled to the ground by ICE agents in front of her child. ICE defends the arrests, stating they're "implementing the rule of law" under Trump's administration, reversing Biden's policies. (NY Daily News)

Capitol Gains

— A bill to limit dairy farms to 700 cows has sparked a political showdown between NYC Democrats and upstate Republicans. Democrats argue the move will curb factory farming and protect smaller operations. Republicans, however, say the bill is an attack on family farms by lawmakers who don't understand the industry. (Times Union)

— A bill in the NY legislature could soon require Long Island school districts to use union-level labor agreements for construction projects over $1 million. Supporters like Sen. Martinez argue this will ensure fair wages and accountability, while also reducing corruption. Critics, however, contend that these agreements will inflate costs and limit contractor options, potentially burdening taxpayers. (Newsday)

Daily Gazette Guest Column: Prevailing wage bill would be devastating - "A study from the Business Council of Westchester found that prevailing wage requirements increase the cost of construction projects by 30%, given that labor costs can be as much as double the market wage. This drastic increase would stop projects from getting off the ground in the first place, which in turn would eliminate thousands of jobs – including union jobs – and stop the economic development we urgently need in its tracks." (Daily Gazette)

Trail Mix

— AOC is throwing her weight behind Zohran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race after the first Democratic primary debate. The endorsement, revealed this morning, highlights Mamdani's ability to build a coalition of working-class New Yorkers. AOC's backing is a significant boost as Mamdani tries to close the gap with Andrew Cuomo before the June 24 primary, aiming to unite anti-Cuomo progressives. She will reportedly be releasing a full ranked slate: Zohran, Adams, Lander, Stringer, then Myrie. (ABC 7)

— An influential coalition of Orthodox Jews in Far Rockaway is throwing its support behind Fmr. Gov. Cuomo for Mayor following the debate. This endorsement could significantly impact the race, given the community's strong voting bloc. It appears to be driven by a desire to defeat Zohran Mamdani, despite a deep dislike for Cuomo himself due to COVID policies: "If Zohran Mamdani and the movement behind him succeed, we risk losing everything we've built." Jewish Insider believes Cuomo is also likely to gain another significant Orthodox endorsement from Brooklyn's Hasidic sects in the coming days. (Jewish Insider)

— Cuomo can't catch a break as NYC mayoral candidates pile on him during their first debate, hitting on his past scandals. But some Democratic insiders aren't convinced the attacks are landing, with one strategist suggesting it gives Cuomo more chances to defend himself. Meanwhile, the RNC is seizing on the debate, blasting Dems on immigration, with one candidate firing back, pointing out she's suing Trump. (Politico)

— Andrew Cuomo's playing hardball in the mayoral race, attacking his opponents for past "Defund the Police" stances during a debate. Things got heated when Rev. Michael Blake challenged Cuomo on his own record, forcing the former governor to admit he'd used the phrase himself. Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani also faced criticism for calling the NYPD "wicked & corrupt," while Cuomo argued Mamdani couldn't stand up to Trump. (NY Post)